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iPod iPod Classic Discontinued

I've purchased two on these forums over the last couple of years. The deals were simply too good to pass up. One- with mega memory- stores a bunch of songs/videos that if I lost iTunes would be able to recover most of the good stuff right on that iPod.

What is interesting though, if I don't use the iPod for awhile I actually kinda, sorta forget how to use it. :( Weird, I know, but truly accurate.
 
Yeah, sad news but not exactly unexpected. I'm actually surprised that the iPod Classic hung on as long as it did.

The iPod Classic demise takes a few items along with it to the tech graveyard.

1) 30-pin connector -- today officially marks the end of the road for that de facto standard and the vast array of "Made for iPod" accessories that accompanied it during the iPod's heyday. The analog throughput on the 30-pin connector allowed for inexpensive iPod and iPhone docks and playback accessories. For a time, you could barely find a boom box or clock radio that didn't also come with an iPod dock. Because of Bluetooth and the Lightning connector being digital-only, there's now a very limited universe of Apple-only audio accessories.

2) Click wheel -- already mentioned, but this is one of the most ingenious interfaces ever devised. It helped pave the way to the iPod's dominance of the media player market, which helped create the market demand for the iPhone.

3) 1.8" hard drive -- this has always been a chicken and egg question -- would the iPod Classic disappear first and lead to the 1.8" hard drive format following suit? Or would the 1.8" hard drive get discontinued first and precipitate the iPod Classic's demise? Either way, the iPod Classic had been the only remaining use for the 1.8" hard drive format for many years. This led to the product line narrowing down to just the 160 GB capacity, with no market incentive for Toshiba to make any investment to improve capacity. It was a technological dead end, and only a matter of who would blink first.
 
Big bummer for sure. I'll be cherishing my current model til it dies forever. Only ever had to own two, as they're pretty resilient, but by god I love the clickwheel. So convenient and I understand that the future is touchscreen, but physical buttons ain't a bad thing either.
 
Wow this blows. I guess this also means we are not expecting any other iPod updates this year? I would imagine they would only kill this iPod at the same time they would announce other new/updated iPods, therefore it seems the iPods won't get updated.

Still thinking about picking up one last classic.
 
Sad day indeed.

The only thing that's left is the shop iPod icon in the online store.

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This is rather disappointing as I really wanted to see an ipod with a capacity larger than 160gb, granted I know they have mods to throw in a 240gb drive (truly 220gb) but that still is not enough for me. My whole library is on itunes and as of today, apple's current largest ipod is 64gb, they've gone backwards in storage size, what a joke. Sure it's flash memory and they've eliminated an optical drive but storage should at least be competitive with the classic 160gb as 64gb isn't anywhere near the ball park. A smart decision would've been to eliminate optical drives from the classic and move toward larger storage flash memory for the classics they could've easily done a 256gb model. I will never buy an ipod touch from apple as they don't even consider nor have a real music listener or audiophile in mind. I don't need no fancy full color touch screen, I have no need to play games or use apps as I already have an iphone and don't need a second one minus the ability to call people. The ipod did what you wanted to do store and play music, simple, cut and dry. What we need is a true audiophile player because as of now it looks like I'm going to have purchase a secondhand 160 and upgrade both of my 160's to 240s and split my library amongst the two classics.
 
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Ladies, gentlemen, iPod Classic was a beautiful piece of technology. He was there when we needed to store 40,000 songs on the go. He was there when we were kind of sad, and we needed some music to cheer us up. His click wheel made him unique and different than other MP3 players, and today he played his last tune. iPod Classic we will never forget you. You helped make Apple into the company we know and love today. iPod Classic his forever memorialized in our mind when we think of what an iPod looks like. Thank you for the memories iPod Classic, we love you. Rest In Peace October 23, 2001 – September 9, 2014
 
ggoerl said:
This is rather disappointing as I really wanted to see an ipod with a capacity larger than 160gb, granted I know they have mods to throw in a 240gb drive (truly 220gb) but that still is not enough for me. My whole library is on itunes and as of today, apple's current largest ipod is 64gb, they've gone backwards in storage size, what a joke. Sure it's flash memory and they've eliminated an optical drive but storage should at least be competitive with the classic 160gb as 64gb isn't anywhere near the ball park. A smart decision would've been to eliminate optical drives from the classic and move toward larger storage flash memory for the classics they could've easily done a 256gb model. I will never buy an ipod touch from apple as they don't even consider nor have a real music listener or audiophile in mind. I don't need no fancy full color touch screen, I have no need to play games or use apps as I already have an iphone and don't need a second one minus the ability to call people. The ipod did what you wanted to do store and play music, simple, cut and dry. What we need is a true audiophile player because as of now it looks like I'm going to have purchase a secondhand 160 and upgrade both of my 160's to 240s and split my library amongst the two classics.
Click to expand...

My thoughts exactly. I don't see the point of basically carrying two iPhones around. If I had an iPod touch (or forced to get one now) then I would waste 95% of its capabilities because I would use it strictly as an MP3 player.

Also, I am not going to try and use my phone as my MP3 player and have to pay top dollar for the largest capacity phone every time I get a new phone. I bought the 160GB classic when it was first released and the only thing that killed it off was my motorcycle wreck.
 
Today is a sad day. :( Better hope my 160GB classic keeps going strong.

(BTW... what the hell am I supposed to buy when it does crap out?)
 
I checked a couple stores online inventory that went from 30+ to sold out by late last night. Really looks like people are buying them up knowing it's their last chance.
 
tyche said:
I checked a couple stores online inventory that went from 30+ to sold out by late last night. Really looks like people are buying them up knowing it's their last chance.
Click to expand...

I went around town looking for one and then found a black classic, it was the last one :eek: I bought it on the spot :D
 
Well, I'll echo that this is indeed a sad day; some very good posts posted to this thread with which I find myself in full agreement.

In any case, I love the classic, and always have at least one to carry as a spare when I travel abroad, as I am one of those who like to have my entire music library with me in one neat device.

This was a design classic for Apple, and I regret that they did not avail of the opportunity to replace the HDD with a 128GB SSD drive.

I already have a spare classic, still in its little box - but will cheerfully add another one to that…..
 
Sad that it's gone, but I'm more surprised it lasted this long. I've always kind of wanted one, but never had a large enough music library to justify having it.
 
So are Apple brick and mortar stores no longer selling them either, despite the fact we know they have them sitting sealed in the back room? Or will they sell until sold out?
 
puma1552 said:
So are Apple brick and mortar stores no longer selling them either, despite the fact we know they have them sitting sealed in the back room? Or will they sell until sold out?
Click to expand...

I'd imagine they'll keep selling them until they're out of stock. But given how few of them they've been selling I doubt they've got too many taking up space in the back.
 
I grabbed a second one from Best Buy Online because it's an integral part of the audio system on my Harley-Davidson Road Glide. Sad to see it gone, but it was a great run - I still own the original 5GB and several models in-between. Enjoy and keep listening.
 
Well, I have phoned the (licensed Apple seller), the place where I ordered and bought my last two CTO MBAs and ordered an iPod classic; my friend behind the counter will source one for me, as his store no longer had any.

I am really sorry to learn of this; that device was a design classic (I loved the click wheel). Above all, I loved the fact that it was devoid of all of the 'bells and whistles' - the complicated extras of many other, subsequent products. Instead, it did one thing - that for which it was designed, - which was to store and play large libraries of music - and did it superbly.

A sad day for those of us who held this device in high regard, and for whom this really did make a difference.

 
ggoerl said:
This is rather disappointing as I really wanted to see an ipod with a capacity larger than 160gb, granted I know they have mods to throw in a 240gb drive (truly 220gb) but that still is not enough for me. My whole library is on itunes and as of today, apple's current largest ipod is 64gb, they've gone backwards in storage size, what a joke. Sure it's flash memory and they've eliminated an optical drive but storage should at least be competitive with the classic 160gb as 64gb isn't anywhere near the ball park. A smart decision would've been to eliminate optical drives from the classic and move toward larger storage flash memory for the classics they could've easily done a 256gb model. I will never buy an ipod touch from apple as they don't even consider nor have a real music listener or audiophile in mind. I don't need no fancy full color touch screen, I have no need to play games or use apps as I already have an iphone and don't need a second one minus the ability to call people. The ipod did what you wanted to do store and play music, simple, cut and dry. What we need is a true audiophile player because as of now it looks like I'm going to have purchase a secondhand 160 and upgrade both of my 160's to 240s and split my library amongst the two classics.
Click to expand...

You forget to mention that iPods are dying business. Apple has little reason to put a 256GB SSD in a device that is clearly declining in sales. Most have iPhones and iPods now, and those are now shipping with up to 128GB of storage. Even the Audiophile with the 100GB library has little reason for an iPod now.
 
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